An Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, is being praised after an incident aboard a flydubai flight reportedly prevented a crash while the jet was bound for Israel. Machchhar, a Mumbai-born pilot, is credited with averting the emergency and keeping the aircraft under control.
Multiple outlets describe his background as outside aviation at first. He initially planned to work in the family’s textile business, but he began flying in his late teens, with his mother initially concerned. Reports also note he has extensive experience, including nearly 9,750 flying hours.
There are differences in the accounts of what happened in the cockpit. The Kathmandu Post reports that Machchhar was seriously injured after his co-pilot reportedly attacked him mid-air and attempted to crash the aircraft, which carried 174 people. Other coverage focuses more on Machchhar’s personal journey and the public praise he receives, without adding as many operational details about the specific cause of the emergency.
